Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-30
He WoN'r DO IT AGAIN.

partments here took young mdrrieu isuy
whose husband happened to be out OF the
city to the last Presidents reception. She
was friend of the family, q near neighbor,
and lady who. previous to her marriage
had spent some time abroad. Now this gen.
tleman, Mr.. A., is a model man, extreme
ly modest. Though comparatively young, ne
is a gentleman of the old school, with high
sense of honor, and a veteran of fine ply
sique and soldierly bearing. Any lady might
we'll be proud of his escort. but he is not fire.
quently given to social pleasures, anu not
deeply versed in the mysteries OF society.
The lady was quite young and very attractive,
both In form and feature. She was well
wrapped in furs as they entered carriage
and drove to the White House. Arriving
there, they parted IN the ante-room, each 60
ing to the cloak room to diyest themselves of
their outer garments, hats, ETC., to meet a few
moments later in the terrible crush which
ALWAYS prevails on such occasions when the
line is forming. When he at last reached
her side he received a shock from which he
has not yet fully recovered for he found the
lady arrayed in such dscollette costume as
| his modest eyes had never seen before. II
was not case of simply bare arms and bare
shoulders; it was something more. He could
not withdraw if he wished. The crowd be-
bind him were surging on and bore them both
| towards the blue room where stood the Presi-
dent. Mr.. As face was crimson, bat he
set his teeth together firmly and fixed his
eyes resoutely upon the ceiling. As they
reached the President and shook his hand,
Mr.. A glanced from me corner of his eye
and observed upon the Presidents usually
imDassive face a curions expression which
made him wish himself thousand miles
away. But the worst was to come when the
lady insisted upon promenading in the spa
cious east room, where they attracted great
deal of attention. Looks of wonder were
plainly discernible upon the faces of the
friends of MIR. A. who were present, and
who knew how excessively modest and retir
ing he was but he saw them not, for he did
not venture to look downward as he stalked
back and forth amid the great throng, OBJ
served, but not observing. 1t should be said,
however, in justice to the lady, that she was
guiltless Of any intentional impro prety, her
residence abroad having unconsciously liber
allied her own views to such an extent as to
enlarge the views of others. But it is safe to
say that Mr.. A-will never visit the White
House again except in the company of his
wife.
DUsKY VISITORS TO THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Washington Is becoming more and more
popular as winter resort for Northern peO-
pie, but there is one class of visitors, larger
in numbers and more punctual in their com
ings and gongs than all the others combined,
whose presence | never see mentioned in the
newspapers. No one seems to care for their
presence or absence. Yet froEl November to
April they visit the city twice a day with the
most unwavering regularity. l refer to the
myriads of crows which migrate here in the
late autumn and remain until early spring
They have rookery in vast swamp back
of Arlington Heights. At daybreak they is
sue forth in countless numbers, flying direct
ly east over the city to the shores of the
Chesapeake, where lie their feeding grounds.
North, east, west and south, as far as the eye
can reach, one may see them, all moving in
the same general direction. Their hoarse
cries sometimes awaken me. Almost pre-
cisely at sunset thev return. 1t seems as if
they were lmitess in numbers as their black
forms emerge swiftly from the dull eastern
sky, passing rapidly overhead and disappear.
ing quickly with the sun behind the hills of
Virginia. Sometimes when the fog is dense
they lose their way; and if the wind blows a
gale thew become tired and can scarcely
mount high enough to evade the housetops
few winters ago flock lost their bearings
in dense fog. A hundred settled down in a
Tree III ~ UUl VI my HUuSe 1uty were so
utterly bewildered as to permit some fiend to
walk up and discharge gun in their midst,
killing nearly a score. One exceedingly cold
winter when the snow had covered the ground
| for long time and the mercury ranged low
| they attacked a man near Aqueduct bridge
and would have killed him but for the timely
aid of some men vino heard his cries of dis
tress In April these birds all leave for the
! North so as to be on hand in C )rn planting
time the same as they were more than two
and a half centuries ago when the Indians
complained of their depredations to Governor
Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, when the lat
ter made their memorable visit to Massasoit,
King of the Narragansetts in 1921
The "CRANK DETECToR"
One of the popular attaches OF the House
is Colonel Edison S. Dinsmore. He is ma
tive of Vermont, and in 1870 was appointed
on the Metropolitan police force of this city
| During eight years of that time he was de.
tailed for special duty at the Executive Man
sion. In March, 1885, Mr.. Cleveland ap
pointed him door-keeper, which position he
now fills. He is very courteous, very oblig
ing, and has many friends especially among
the ladies He is constantly IN receipt OF
letters of introduction from acquaintance
in different parts of the country, asking thai
he Will please show 1.-THE bearer" all the
points of interest in the White House. These
requests are always complied with in a man.
ner which is very pleasing to the visitor
Col. Dinsmore's reputation, however, i,
based largely upon his wonderful ability as
'crank detector" Scarcely day passe,
that some crank does not invade the White
House and seek to thrust himself and hi,
wild schemes upon the President. Coone
Dinsmore has peculiar faculty of detecting
at sight, this dangerous class. He recognizes
them and comprehends their mission befor,
they open their mouths. Yet he cannot tel
how it is intutive on his part.
INDIAN RELICS.
1t is not generally known that this portion
of the Potomac was tavorite hunting groun
of the red man. was examining vesterda,
a remarkable private collection of arrow
heads collected mainly on the banks in tn,
vicinity of Georgetown. The skill exhibited
in the fashioning of these articles was wonder
full. There were about half dozen varietie
made in this locality. But occasionally may
be found some made from a kind of ston,
not found within hundred miles of Wash
ington, showing that the Indian who shot i
must have come long distance. Not Ions
since professor in the Smithsonian Instiu
ton came across rudely shaped bowl cafvet
out of soapstone. 1t was being used fo